Base plate for billet mold and the like



Filed July 26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR fimm/v J. VERA/ER BY 5%,M M H W ATTORNEYS Oct. 6, 1942. J VE N R 2,298,241

BASE PLATE FOR BILLET MOLD AND THE LIKE Filed July 26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet, 2

ATTORNEYS Oct. 6, 1942. H, J. VERNLER 2,298,241

BASE PLATE FOR BILLET MOLD AND THE LIKE Filed July 26, 1941 3 She ets-Sheet Z5 -T-M H F77 I 7'.1

INVENTOR HYMfl/V J: VERA/ER BY ZW PM, WM

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 6, 1942 BASE PLATE FOR BILLET MOLD AND THE LIKE Hyman J. Verner, Perth Amboy, N. J., assignor to International smelting andltefining 00., a corporation of Montana Application July 26, 1941, Serial No. 404,163

13 Claims.

This invention relates to base plates for billet molds or the like, and has for its principal object the provision of an improved base plate assembly providing universal movement of a reversible and readily replaceable base plate adjacentthe bottom of a billet or like mold.

Billet molds, and particularly those used for casting copper and copper alloy billets, are generally cylindrical in shape and are provided with solid or water-jacketed side walls. The bottom of the mold is closed by a base plate. Billets are cast by pouring the molten metal into the top of the mold. After solidification of metal within the mold, the base plate is separated from the bottom of the mold and the solid metal casting is ejected from the mold. In many modern commercial billet casting operations, a plurality of billet molds are commonly removably supported in vertical position about the periphery of a horizontally disposed casting wheel in such manner that empty mold-s ready to receive the molten metal are progressively advanced in front of the pouring ladle of'a furnace from which the molten metal is to be cast. In this type of apparatus the base plate for each billet mold is mounted on a suitable framework beneath the casting wheel, and the mold projecting downwardly through the casting wheel is closed at the bottom by the base plate.

Repeated pouring of molten metal into a billet mold results in serious warping and erosion of the base plate, requiring frequent renewal of the surface of the base plate. In the type of base plate used heretofore, comprising a plate having a carefully machined surface hung by hinges on framework below the casting wheel, it is practically impossible to resurface the base plate because the hinge fixes the level of the base plate with reference to which the original surface must be machined. Moreover, extreme care must be exercised in surfacing these base plates so as to maintain perfect contact between the base plate and the bottom of the mold. If the contact is imperfect, molten metal will leak out of the bottom of the mold and drip over moving parts of the base plate assembly. In addition to the fact that such hinged base plates are not reversible, levelling of the base plate to assure perfect contact with the mold bottom can be effected only in one direction. Hinged base plates are generally cast, and such imperfections as shrinkage holes are frequently not disclosed in machining the surface of the base plate. As a result, the base plates often have portions so thin that failure in service occurs after only one or a few billets have been cast. When such base plates have to be replaced, the entire casting operation must generally be shut down and the work of several men is required to remove the heavy hot base plates.

I have devised a novel base plate assembly in which reversible sturdy base plates may be readily installed and replaced. The base plate assembly of my invention further provides universal mounting of the base plate so as to insure complete contact between the base plate and the mold even when the bottom of the mold is not perfectly horizontal or in line with the base plate assembly.

The novel bas plate assembly of this invention comprises a frame member, a mold base plate for closing the bottom of the mold, and means connecting the base plate to the frame and permitting of universal movement of the base plate with respect to the frame. The frame is preferably arranged for swinging movement into and away from a closed position with respect to a mold bottom.

In one specific embodiment of the invention, the universal base plate assembly comprises a frame, a bottom member rockably mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the frame, and a top member rockably mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the bottom member substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement of the bottom member. A mold base plate is removably secured to the top member. In the nowpreferred form of the invention, the mold base plate is disc-shaped and has a peripheral groove formed therein with fastening means engaging in this groove and securing the base plate to the top member.

The bottom member is advantageously provided with an open central portion in which the top member is mounted for rocking movement on an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rocking movement of the bottom member. To this end the top member is mounted on journals supported by the bottom member. The bottom member is rotatably mounted on a shaft extending across and supported by the frame. The portion of the top member disposed within the open central portion of the bottom member is provided with an opening slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of the shaft, so that movement of the top member about the journals is limited by the degree of freedom of movement of the shaft in the opening. One of the journals is advantageously provided with 7 a projecting portion extending into an opening in the frame of such size as to permit free but limited rocking movement of the journals about the axis of the shaft on which the bottom member is mounted.

These and other features of the invention will be seen by reference to the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of the universal base plate assembly of the invention mounted on a framework below a casting wheel;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional side View of the assembly taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the assembly taken along line 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section through the assembly taken along line 44 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section through the assembly taken along line 5--5 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the frame member of the assembly;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the top member of the assembly;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the bottom member of the assembly;

Fig. 9 is a section through the frame member taken along the line 99 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a section through the frame member taken along line Ill-l 0 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is a section through the top member taken along line in Fig.7; and

Fig. 12 is a section through the bottom member taken along line |2--|2 in Fig. 8.

The base plate assembly shown in the drawings supported in a frame member l5 which is substantially rectangular in shape as shown in Fig. 6. One end of the frame is provided with projecting portions I6 having openings I! therein for hinging this end of the frame on a shaft. The sides of the frame are provided on their inner surfaces with the bosses I8. Openings extend through the sides of the frame and the bosses 8 and serve as bearing elements for a shaft 2|. Each of the bosses is provided with a threaded aperture through which a set-screw 22 extends to hold the shaft in position in the openings 20. The sides of the frame are curved so that the central portion of the sides is lower than the ends of the frame, as shown in Figs. 1 and 10. The end of the frame having the projecting portions I6 is provided intermediate these projections with a downwardly extending portion 23 having a tapered opening 24, the large end of the tapered opening facing the interior of the frame.

A bottom member 25, which is shown (Figs. 8 and 12) as being of generally circular shape. is provided with the bosses 26 each having an opening 21 of such size as to permit mounting of the bottom member for rockable movement on the shaft 2|. The bottom member is further provided with bearing enlargements 30 each providing a deep half-bearing 3|. Each of the halfbearing elements is positioned intermediate the bosses 26 so that the common axis of the halfbearings is substantially perpendicular to the shaft 2|. The bearing groove in one of the enlarged portions 30 is covered by a flat keeper plate 32.

A top member for the assembly, shown in detail in Figs. '7 and 11, comprises a central body portion 33 having a central opening 34. The opening 34 extends transversely through the central body portion 33 and is slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of the shaft 2|. Journals 28 project from each side of the body member '33 at substantially right angles to the opening 34 therein, and permit the top member to be rockably mounted in the half-bearings 3| of the bottom member. The keeper plate prevents accidental removal of the top member from its journalled support on the bottom member. One of the journals 28 is extended in length and is provided with a tapered extremity 35. The size of the tapered end is slightly less than the size of the tapered opening 24 in the frame member so as to permit free but limited movement of the tapered end 35 of the journal within the opening 24.

The top member is further provided adjacent the top of the central body portion 33 with four outwardly extending arms 36. Two of the arms terminate in upwardly and'inwardly projecting portions 31 adapted to engage in a groove in a mold base plate. A bolt 38 is mounted at the extremity of each of the other two arms, the bolt being free to turn and being locked in position by the nut 40. The upper end of the bolt above each arm is provided with an eccentric lug 4| such that by turning the bolt 38 in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 3 the eccentric lug 4| is turned into engagement in a groove in a mold base plate. A mold base plate may thus be releasably secured to the top member of the universal base plate assembly.

The mold base plate now preferred in accordancewith my invention comprises a disc-shaped metal member 42 having a peripheral groove 43 formed therein. In actual practice I have found that such a base plate may be readily and inexpensively obtained by cutting off a section of a round copper billet somewhat larger in diameter than the internal diameter of the billet mold with which the base plate assembly is to be used. The peripheral groove is easily formed therein by turning the disc on a lathe. Such a base plate is dense and has a substantial thickness so that small blow holes, if they are present in the base plate, do not Weaken the base plate and do not lead to premature failure in service. The base plate is readily amenable to repeated machining for resurfacing thereof and is reversible in that either face of the base plate may be used as the bottom closure for a mold. Moreover, the surface of the base plate need not be machined to a specific level with respect to its axis or to any other part of the base plate assembly because the universal feature of the assembly assures complete contact between a smooth surface of the base plate and the bottom of a billet mold.

In the complete universal base plate assembly, the bottom member 25 is mounted on the shaft 2| within the frame l5. Uniform spacing between the bosses l8 of the frame member and the bosses 26 of the bottom member is maintained by spacer rings such as the washers 44. The bottom member is thus free to rock about the shaft 2| The central body portion 33 of the top member is positioned within the open central portion of the bottom member with the shaft 2| extending through the opening 3| in the central body portion 33. Spacing is maintained between the bosses 26 of the bottom member and the central body portion 33 of the top member by spacer rings such as the washers 45. The journals 28 mounted in the bearing grooves 3| of the bottom member, and held therein by the keeper plate 32, permit rocking movement of the top member about an axis substantially perpendicular to the aXis of movement of the bottom member. Spacing is advantageously provided between the bearing member 30 of the bottom member and the central body portion 33 of the top member by means of the washer 46. Thus, the base plate, which is removably secured to the top member, is capable of rocking movement effected by movement of the top member about the journals 28 and of rocking movement about the shaft 2i, the base plate, the top member and the bottom member moving as a unit in this latter movement. The projecting tapered end 35 of the journal extending into the opening 24 in the end of the frame l5 limits the rocking movement of the top and bottom members as a unit about the shaft 2|. The opening 34 in the central body portion 33 of the top member, which is somewhat greater in diameter than the diamtween the base plate and the bottom of a mold when the base plate is brought up against the bottom of the mold.

The complete base plate assembly is hinged adjacent the bottom of a mold, such as the billet mold l! mounted in a casting wheel, by means of a shaft 48 extending through the openings H in the projecting portions 16 of the frame memher. The shaft 48 is suitably mounted in bearing brackets 5!! secured adjacent the side of the bottom portion of the billet mold. The bearing bracket is held in fixed position by the supporting arms 5! secured to the underneath portion of the casting wheel. The universal base plate assembly may thus be swung from the operative position at the bottom of the mold 41, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, into the inoperative position, shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, for removal of a solidified cast billet from the mold. The base plate assembly is held in operative position by means of an appropriate latch such as the catch 52 engaging the end of the frame member !5 opposite the hinged end thereof.

The mold base plate assembly of this invention is particularly characterized by its universal mounting which leads to a substantial increase in the useful life of the assembly and which insures at all times perfect contact between a smooth surface of the base plate and the bottom of a mold. The universal mounting of the base plate also facilitates resurfacing of the base plate in that the level of the surface with respect to the body of the base plate is of no critical importance. The base plate itself is sturdy and durable and may be readily fashioned from stock, such as a cast copper billet, which is available wherever the base plate is to be used. The base plate is reversible and is secured to or released from the assembly with a minimum of labor. These features, together with the relatively light weight of the base plate compared with those heretofore in general use, contribute to the efiiciency of the complete base plate assembly.

I claim:

1. A base plate assembly for a billet mold or the like comprising a frame member arranged for movement into and away from a closed position with respect to a mold bottom, a mold base plate for closing the bottom of the mold, and means engaging the sides of the base plate connecting the base plate to the frame and permitting of limited universal movement of said base plate with respect to said frame.

2. A base plate assembly-for a billet mold or the like comprising a frame member hinged for swinging into and away from a closed position with respect to a mold bottom, a reversible mold base plate for closing the bottom of the mold, and releasable means engaging the sides of the base plate releasably connecting the base plate to the frame and permitting of limited universal movement of said base plate with respect to said frame.

3. A universal base plate assembly for a billet mold or the like comprisin a frame, a bottom member rockably mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the frame, a top member rockably mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the bottom member substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement of the bottom member, and a mold base plate secured to the top member.

4. A universal base plate assembly for a billet mold or the like comprising a frame, a bottom member rockably mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the frame, a top member rockably mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the bottom member substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement of the bottom member, and a reversible mold base plate removably secured to the top member.

5. A universal base plate assembly for a billet mold or the like comprising a frame, a bottom member rockably mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the frame, a top member rockably mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the bottom member substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement of the bottom member, a disc-shaped mold base plate having a peripheral groove formed therein, and releasable fastening means on said top member for engaging in said groove and thereby securing the base plate to the top member.

6. A universal base plate assembly for a billet mold or the like comprising a frame, a bottom member having an open central portion, the bottom member being disposed Within the frame and being mounted for rocking movement about an axis fixed with respect to the frame, a top member rockably mounted within the open central portion of the bottom member on an axis fixed with respect to the bottom member substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement of the bottom member, and a mold base plate secured to the top member.

'7. A universal base plate assembly for a billet mold or the like comprising a frame, a bottom member having an open central portion, the bottom member being disposed within the frame and being mounted for rocking movement about an axis fixed with respect to the frame, a top member rockably mounted within the open central portion of the bottom member about an axis fixed with respect to the bottom member substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement of the bottom member, the top member having releasable clamping means adapted to engage a mold base plate and a mold base plate engaged by said clamping means.

8. A universal base plate assembly for a billet mold or the like comprising a frame, a bottom member rockably mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the frame, means for limiting the rocking movement of the bottom member, a top member rockably mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the bottom member substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement of the bottom member, means for limiting the rocking movement of the top member, and a base plate secured to the top member.

9. A universal base plate assembly for a billet mold or the like comprising a frame, a shaft ex- A tending across the frame and supported thereby, a bottom member having an open central portion, the bottom member being disposed within the frame and being rockably mounted on the shaft, a top member rockably mounted within the open central portion of the bottom member on journals supported by the bottom member in such manner that the axis of movement of the top member is substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement of the bottom member, the shaft extending through an opening provided in the top member disposed within the open central portion of the bottom member, said opening being slightly greater than the diameter of the shaft whereby movement of the top member about the journals is limited by the freedom of movement between the shaft and the opening in the top member, one of said journals being provided with a projecting portion extending into an opening in the frame of such size as to permit free but limited rocking movement of the journals about the axis of said shaft, and a mold bas plate secured to the top member.

10. A universal base plate assembly for a billet mold or the like comprising a frame, a bottom member rockably mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the frame, a top member rockably mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the bottom member substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement of the bottom member, the top member having outwardly extending arms provided adjacent their extremities with clamping means adapted to releasably engage a base plate, and a mold base plate secured by said clamping means to the top member.

11. A universal base plate assembly for a billet mold or the like comprising a frame, a bottom member rockably mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the frame, a top member rockably mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the bottom member substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement of the bottom member, the top member having outwardly and oppositely extending arms, the extremity of one arm being provided with an inwardly extending projection adapted to engage in a groove in a base plate and the extremity of the oppositely extending arm being provided with an eccentric lug adapted upon turning thereof to engage in a groove in a base plate, and a mold base plate provided with a groove and being secured to the top member by said inwardly extending projection and said eccentric lug engaging in said groove.

12. The combination with a billet mold or the like having side walls and an open bottom, of a base plate assembly comprising a frame pivotally mounted adjacent the bottom of the mold for swinging engagement into and away from closed position with respect to the mold bottom, a bottom member rockably mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the frame, a top member rockably mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the bottom member substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement of the bottom member, a base plate removably secured to the top member, and releasable locking means for holding the pivotally mounted frame in closed position adjacent the bottom of the billet mold with the base plate in contact with the bottom of the mold.

13. A universal base plate assembly for a billet mold or the like having side walls, comprising a frame pivotally mounted adjacent the bottom of the mold, a shaft extending across the frame and supported thereby, a bottom member having an open central portion, the bottom member being disposed within the frame and being rockably mounted on the shaft, a top member rockably mounted within the open central portion of the bottom member on journals supported by the bottom member in such manner that the axis of movement of the top member is substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement of the bottom member, the shaft extending through an opening in the top member of such size as to permit free but limited rocking movement of the top member on the journals, one of said journals being provided with a projecting portion extending into an opening in the frame of such size as to permit free but limited rocking movement of the bottom member about the shaft, a discshaped mold base plate having a peripheral groove formed therein, the top member having outwardly and oppositely extending arms, the extremity of one arm being provided with an inwardly extending projection adapted to engage in the peripheral groove in the base plate and the extremity of the oppositely extending arm being provided with an eccentric lug adapted upon turning thereof to engage in the peripheral groove in the base plate, and locking means for holding the pivotally mounted frame adjacent the bottom of the billet mold with the base plate in contact with the bottom of the side walls of the billet mold.

. HYMAN J. VERNER. 

